Marketing Multiple Services
By Melvin Ram - October 14th, 2006
Question:
I have many services and I’ve created an identity, a logo and a website for each service. I’m about to launch my company new website. I’m confused which strategy should I follow.
Option1: Shall I include each service I have as a text sub-page in the main company website and put a link for the service website (as a separated domain) for more details?
Option2: Shall I include the entire service website inside the company website? (i.e. http://companywebsite/servicewebsite)
In 2nd option, the website theme and colors will change by choosing the service name from the company website menu.
Response:
I’m taking the liberty to assume this is a new or young business. I’ve got four thoughts for you.
1) As a new/young business, you need to focus your marketing dollars and energy. Focus breeds success. Do you really need to offering all of these services? Is there one service that will be most demanded and most profitable? Will you really have the time and resources to build out all these sites and make each one produce tangible results for you?
2) Do you feel that each of these services will become it’s own brand/company? Take into consideration demand as well as your resources. If not, you’ll eventual end up moving them all to the same site to make things easier logistically. I’ve seen it happen over and over and over again.
3) Are the different services complimentary or fairly unrelated? When they stand together, do they make you a stronger company and more attractive to do business with? Microsoft Office combines a few strong products into a super product, but they are all complimentary. They all address the same target market. Marketing Consulting + Web Design = Good Combination. Marketing Consulting + Legal Help = Questionable Logic. If they are related, they probably belong on one website. If not, they don’t belong on one website.
4) As far as search engine optimization goes, getting links is one of the most important and time consuming components. Getting links to 5 different sites might mean you need to get 3-4 times more links. Why not leverage all your links into one website? As far as linking between the different sites: You’ll probably be hosting all your websites with the same host. Google and others will know they are on the same host which means they are probably owned by same people. It won’t count that much. Infact, if you go too far, you’ll get labeled as a link farm and be blacklisted.
Do you have other advice for this individual? Discuss this post below.
~ mel
Melvin Ram
Volcanic Marketing
916.743.9369
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